Dr. Thomas outlines the future of the Safe Baby Safe Moms program

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Angela D. Thomas, DrPH, MPH, MBA, vice president of health care delivery research at MedStar Health discussed expansion efforts for the Safe Baby Safe Moms program.

Safe Baby Safe Moms, initiated at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, is a comprehensive maternal health program aimed at addressing the needs of expecting mothers, particularly in underserved communities. Over its first 5 years, the program has implemented impactful interventions, such as high-risk obstetrics co-location and providing ultrasonography at community clinics.

Moving forward, the goal is to scale these interventions across MedStar Health’s 6 other obstetric hospitals in Maryland and Washington, DC. This expansion will involve identifying each community's unique needs and establishing partnerships with local organizations, akin to the program’s collaboration with Community of Hope and Mamatoto Village in DC. By addressing local gaps in care, such as the absence of high-risk obstetric services, and ensuring services such as care navigation, behavioral health screening, and medical-legal support, the initiative seeks to provide holistic care tailored to each community.

A significant aspect of the program’s success lies in running research alongside implementation, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and effective. This approach is crucial for securing insurance coverage for the program’s various components, as many impactful interventions are not yet fully covered by payers. Thomas emphasized the need for continued innovation and learning as the program expands to other hospitals and adapts its model for broader application, even beyond the DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

The program aspires not only to enhance maternal care within MedStar Health but also to serve as a model for other health care systems nationwide. Thomas concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share their work and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing maternal health through innovative, community-focused approaches.

This video is part 2 of a 2-part series. Click here for part 1.